Observation of the petropharyngeal muscle in Japanese.

The petropharyngeal muscles were observed in 7 cadavers, 8 cases (1.4%) [both side: one case (0.3%), one side: 6 cases (1.9%)] in 614 Japanese cadavers. All cases of this supernumerary muscles of the stylopharyngeal muscle took origin from the petrous part of the temporal bone to inserted to the outer surface of the middle constrictor pharyngeal muscles. And also of its muscle bundles were innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve and supplied from the ascending pharyngeal artery. The appearance of the sex differences male was much higher than female in Japanese.